Sweet devotion
You are everything I ever wanted
You hello Say to me
You never say that to me friend
Sweet devotion
I don't know how to live
Without you
I need you every hour my friend
Do you love me friend?
Let me hear yes
Written: September 14, 2026, for a contest sponsored by: Andrea Dietrich
****************
Salt stings your tears, each glistening bead of sadness.
Your breathing finds its natural rhythm, as if found
beneath the grief, a pulse untouched by innocence.
I mistook your quiet for apathy, yet innocence
remained—a fragile flame beneath the weight of sadness,
a sporadic, sparkling smile of something you had found.
Lost friends, lost years, yet somehow you found
a grace that gathered up your scattered innocence,
and gently lifted you beyond your darker sadness.
Perhaps God found innocence within your sadness.
Spare me some love, Fidelis—
the way a beggar spares a coin
from the hand of a saint,
or rain spares one roof
while drowning the village.
Give me what you have left
after you have fed the wolves,
after your heart has paid its taxes
to every stranger
who called it home.
I do not ask for the moon.
It has disappointed me enough—
always hanging above the ruins
like a witness too beautiful
to testify.
Give me a cup of your silence.
I have learned to drink from empty things.
I have kissed the rim of absence
until my lips forgot
what warmth was supposed to mean.
Spare me some love, Fidelis—
not all of it.
Only what remains
when the house is quiet,
and the last door closes.
“Remember me, O my God, for good.” — Nehemiah 13:31
May the lantern
of my memory
shine like bright gold
as hope of renewal
sustains me
from late summer
through winter’s end
Fine
Very fine
Like a worm
Shirt cotton threads pull
And fray
Bare skin
Pale skin finally
Appears through the gasps
Through the holes
Inspirations come within our knowledge
Changing sky's colours
Non-musical dancing of the leaves
The pursuing sun's motive
The hearted kiss of the grass on my pants
Man's changing strange behaviour
The taming of the wild animals
And the imbedding strange interest in my heart
To show His love,
Our God did send,
His one and only Son,
To save from sin,
We mortals hear, that,
"This is not the end."
Yes, We offend,
Our God above,
Yes, we were born in sin.
Please, God forgive,
We’ll make amends, since,
"This is not the end."
We travel through,
This life we wend,
With Son of Man as Friend.
We have no fear,
Since He is near, knowing,
“This is not the end.”
And we have learned,
Faith, Hope and Love,
Of all our fellow men,
Must be secured,
On these Life depends, for,
“This is not the end.”
This life on earth,
With such few years,
Know death it will attend.
Yet we have Faith,
And Hope is dear, that,
"This is not the end."
And when the veil,
On life descends,
And closes out our case,
We'll know for sure,
That Truth endured, and,
"It was not the end."
* * *
Darrell Simmerman © 2025
Ready for heaven
Sky so pure above
Calling for me
All the long days blessed together
God I can wait to go to
Heaven
Heaven waits quietly
Still morning, still hope
Any day you call, I'LL answer quickly
Heaven I will be ready
To go to heaven
Whenever you send the
Angel down from heaven
To find me here
He'll carry me
On his wings
On his wings
Flying on to heaven
I have this jar, nothing special about it
Aside for the fact it is used to save money
You may ask about it, actually
I'm saving for something sweet like honey
They say everything cost money
If you live you pay for you to keep on living
If you die you pay to be buried
And here I thought if I just disappear
So does my financial responsibility
Isn't so hard, to choose
Whether to live or to die
Either choice still cost a fortune
So here I am keep on working
Keep on living, Saving for my funeral
Don't you forget about God
Kids it was you God that
Gave your life after
He created you
In his Image
And now your kids are
Vaping
Also you think vaping
Is cool
Kids you don't know that
You are
Destroying your health
AIso you are going to
Die young
Also your kids drink
Beer
Your kids are destroying
Your liver
Also your kids don't believe in God
Baby’s wail, crisp march dawn, sister Jay born,
a glowing treasure dawned that wondrous day,
since then our firm rapport has weathered storms
In depth, laughter, tears, how we faced wild storms,
sensing one and others needs truly born,
joint life journey, each true heaven scent day.
wry slant on sibling antics, close of day,
Jay bosom spar in sun, rain, wicked storms,
on recall, peak chapters in concert born
My homage born for each rapt day, Jay, you oust storms
When dreams all come crashing down,
I’ll just take the long way 'round,
When the light of hope turns to dark,
I’m more determined to hit my mark.
When let down and people sway,
I’ll just choose to stay away,
When disappointment hits again,
I just push on through the pain.
When hopes and dreams all fall through,
I’ll just start something new,
When feeling low, no hope in sight,
I’ll light a candle for a little light.
When the heart cracks one more time,
I’ll just write another rhyme,
When nighttime falls and I hear more lies,
I’ll wait till dawn and watch the sun rise.
When I think I can take no more,
I remind myself there’s lots to explore,
When the day becomes too much,
I’ll close my eyes and dream as such.
It’s a tug of war between shadows and light,
Feeling hopeless but I’m ready to fight,
Through the struggles and the pain,
I’ll rise up stronger, again and again.
When my soul begins to die,
This is when I know I’ll fly,
When it’s all said and done,
I will know I tried, and I won.
Spinning around,
Jumping rope,
Something found,
Gave wonder and hope.
Homework to do,
Grades to earn,
Squabbles brew,
Moody concern.
Research to keep,
Always on the go,
Lack of sleep,
Prideful show.
Life still a mess,
Why am I fat?!
Work in progress,
More than one cat.
Rocking chair,
Sitting out front,
Knowing stare,
Memories confront.
Pristine pink pumps press
past the pale pine,
Placing poised pirouettes,
perfectly prime.
Proudly, she pauses, portraying
pure grace,
Pacing the platform, a phantom
in lace.
She spins sweet symphonies,
swift, soft, and still,
Soaring so splendidly, showing
sublime skill.
Silken skirts shimmer and
shadows start sliding.
If I didn't had your love
My Father
I would not be able to live
Without your love
Please Father give me
Some love
Because I know that
You have lots of love to spare
You are the one who made love
With your holy hands
Also it is love that heals
My broken heart
That is in pain
I already took lots of pain killers
And nothing worked
Yes I overdose on pain killers
That is something that is very
Dangerous to do
But I also was getting desperate
Yes Father lots of people broke
My heart again
Also I don't know what else
To do
Because I hate to be alone
Without friends
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